The battle was over. The sun was rising after twelve hours of continuous fighting, both Keela and Velka sporting heavy bags under their eyes as Saphielle napped in the background. Soldiers of the Noclye Demon army went about the battlefield, cleaning up and finishing off any remaining soldiers. A scout headed in their direction, causing both of them to get up, feigning as much of an awake attitude as they could muster.

“What’s your report?” asked Velka, covering for Keela.

“We lost fifty thousand but successfully wiped out the entirety of the opposing force”, replied the scout, standing to attention.

“And the general?”

A small troop arrived at that time, one soldier carrying a canvas bag over their shoulder. As they arrived, they threw the bag at Keela’s feet, the opening in it showing an unconscious Raymond. The general of the demon army arrived with the troop, bowing in respect in front of Keela and Velka.

“Our duty is done, your majesty. You now have a choice. As instructed by the prince, you may either keep us as citizens of your empire or send us back to the abyss”, he said, speaking in a raucous tone.

“And whichever would you prefer?” replied Keela, scratching her head.

“Whichever works, although we have not been up here in aeons before this moment.”

“You have families down there don’t you?”

“Some of us do.”

“Will I be able to call upon you again?”

“Those of us who wish to answer the call will, but you can.”

“Thank you then, you can go back to the abyss.”

“As you wish, your majesty.”

Following her answer, the entirety of the army of demons dissipated into sand, their shadows sucked by the ground. In an instant, the great army she had was gone. Sighing, she grabbed Raymond and threw him over her shoulder.

“Grab Saphielle, we’re going back. Try not to wake her”, she said, opening a portal to their usual meeting room.

A few minutes later, Velka came back from Saphielle’s quarters. Having passed by theirs, she threw a flask at Keela, allowing her to have her daily intake of blood. Sipping it immediately energized her, making her ready for what was next. Grabbing the makeshift collar she had worn when Velka was testing her, she affixed it to Raymond, strapping him into a solid chair. When she was sure to have properly fastened him, she grabbed a cup of cold water and splashed him in the face with it, causing him to wake up and look around, confused. Keela was sitting on the table, one leg over the other with her chin resting in her hand, Velka slouched in a chair next to her.

“Where am I?” asked Raymond, looking around.

“The room where I eat breakfast”, said Keela in a monotone voice, looking bored.

“Wh… what about my troops? My generals? My three hundred thousand soldiers?”

“All dead, cooking under the desert sun.”

Keela paused as Raymond took in the information, taking another sip from the flask.

“Here’s the deal Raymond; I told you what would happen, this one’s on you”, she said after a long sigh in the same bored tone.

“I saw my men get ripped apart. It took ten of us to take one of those things down… How did you even get access to those?” replied Raymond, his eyes glazed over.

“I played to a demon prince’s pride. And paid the price.”

“What happened to them?”

“They left, went back to the abyss where I got them from.”

“You’re not making much sense.”

“That’s rich coming from you.”

She paused again, downing the rest of her flask. She wiped her mouth, leaving a small smear of blood on her hand, which didn’t go unnoticed.

“What happened to you? You used to be such a sweet innocent girl”, said Raymond, trying to play to her sensibilities.

“Oh save it Raymond. You did this. You made me like this when you killed Bertaut and threw his head at me”, she replied standing up from the table.

“Do you do nothing but shift the blame? A lot of the responsibility is still on you? Demons? For fucks sake Kalianore, you’re becoming like your mother.”

“Shut up. Don’t you dare.”

“Is that what being the queen does? Do you all lose your mind and become something the common man fears? What next, are you going to march on Wul, slaughter the innocents like you just did their fathers?”

Keela walked over to him, pushing the chair over, making him land on his back.

“Don’t twist the facts, Summer. You attacked me. I defended my people. I dare you to look in the streets. You’ll see my people are worth defending”, she said through her teeth, keeping the hatch on her emotions.

“You keep telling yourself that. One day, your regrets are going to bite you in the ass. And that day, I’ll be there, laughing at you”, replied Raymond, spitting in her face.

Getting back up, Keela lifted him off the chair, undoing his binds and grabbing him by the collar. She opened a portal behind him, the vast emptiness of limbo gazing back at her.

“You enjoy what your people subjected me to. Then you’ll know which of us started the cruelty bit”, she said, loosening the collar.

She kicked him, straight in the chest, the collar breaking. Raymond flew backwards into the portal, desperately looking for something to hold on to as he realized his destination. Looking down on him with disgust, she closed the portal. The last emotion she saw from him was genuine terror before the opening sealed itself, trapping him. She sat down in a chair next to Velka, bunching her knees up to her chest.

“Did I do the right thing?” she asked, Raymond’s words catching up to her thoughts.

“I think it’s less about the right thing and more about what you can do. Options weren’t plentiful”, replied Velka, sitting up in her chair, looking at her.

“I suppose you’re right…”

“Shall we head to bed?”

“Yeah…”